DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GRUD'S FINGER MIGHT BE WORSE.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Dodgers second baseman Mark Grudzielanek's injured finger might be worse than he expected. He will be examined by hand specialist Dr. Norman Zemel today.

Grudzielanek hoped to play either today or Friday. But after being examined Tuesday by team physician Dr. Frank Jobe, Grudzielanek was told the potential for permanent injury to his right middle finger might exist.

``Oh, yeah, I'm concerned when they say to go see a specialist,'' Grudzielanek said. ``They said certain things could happen and then you would be having permanent problems, so, yeah, it is (a concern).

``It's something that might be ... about my future, and obviously it's something that could be harmful for me next year and the year after that. It might be something that impacts the future.''

Grudzielanek, who is batting .284 and has played solid defense this season, missed his third consecutive game Wednesday because of the chipped knuckle. He injured it while turning a double play Sunday in Atlanta.

Known for being tough and playing through pain, Grudzielanek has endured a sprained right ankle injury and a torn ligament in his right thumb this season. He's played much of the time in pain but said he would draw the line if it meant damaging his career over the long term.

``If it's going to jeopardize my future in the game, then there's no question we have to look at it,'' Grudzielanek said. ``I played seven years to get to this point. I feel like, personally, I'll sacrifice so much. But on the other hand, I can't sacrifice the rest of my career if it might hamper me or bother me.

``It's something where I'm going to go there and be open-minded about it, but again, I came over here for this last month and I want to be in there for the final 30 games. That's what it's all about.''

With rosters expanding from 25 to 40 Saturday, the Dodgers have no plan of placing Grudzielanek on the disabled list. The club also knows he could be in the lineup by the weekend, but the potential for a lingering injury exists. And with two more years left on his contract, it might not be prudent for the Dodgers to rush him back, either.

``Is Grud's finger going to get well enough to where he can be the same, normal guy that's been out there all year long?'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``Are we putting him in a position to where he's less than normal, to where a double-play feed, a throw, something like that, would put him and this ballclub in a vulnerable position? I'm not going to go there, but if he's able to do what he's been doing for us all year long and play through whatever discomfort is going to come with that, then we would venture into that area.''

--Brown feeling fine: Right-hander Kevin Brown isn't talking much these days, but Tracy and pitching coach Jim Colborn both said the staff ace experienced nothing abnormal after his first outing in six weeks.

Brown, out since July 16 with a torn right flexor muscle, pitched five shutout innings and threw 68 pitches in a no-decision Tuesday against Colorado. Tracy added Brown would make his start Sunday against St. Louis.

``Brownie came out of things well, I think it's safe to say,'' Tracy said. ``He has the normal stiffness and soreness that goes along with having gone out there and pitched (Tuesday) night.''

Colborn and Tracy also plotted the starting pitching for all but the final three games of the season, and it includes a healthy dose of Brown, James Baldwin and Chan Ho Park against the San Francisco Giants.

As scheduled now, that threesome will pitch the Sept. 14-16 three-game series in San Francisco and the three home games against the Giants on Sept. 24-26. It means Brown wouldn't face West Division leader Arizona in a four-game series at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 20-23, but each could start the final three days of the season in Arizona on short rest.

--Odds and ends: Tracy said Paul Lo Duca will start again tonight at first base since Chan Ho Park is the starting pitcher. ... Dodgers brass met about a postseason roster and September call-ups before the game, and more meetings are scheduled today.

DODGERS vs. COLORADO

Time: 7:10 p.m., at Dodger Stadium.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: The teams conclude their three-game series as Dodgers RH Chan Ho Park (12-9, 2.95 ERA) tries to beat the Rockies for the third time this season. He's 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA in two starts against the Rockies. Park is coming off a complete-game five-hitter in Atlanta, but since the All-Star break he's 4-4 with a 3.26 ERA. Free-agent signee LH Denny Neagle (8-6, 5.16) starts for the Rockies. Neagle is 2-4 with a 6.80 ERA in eight starts since the All-Star break. He is 0-3 with a 7.88 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers this season.

- Brian Dohn

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

DODGERS vs. COLORADO (see text)